Certify: certificates and artwork passports

The Desk issues several documents: certificate of authenticity, certificate of provenance, title of ownership, condition report and digital certification. Each answers a distinct question: is the work what it is said to be, where does it come from, who owns it, what condition is it in.

The OIMAP number, in the format OIMAP-AAAA-NNNNNN, links all these documents to a single work and serves as the unique reference.

Opinions are given by accredited experts, numbering 360. Each expert declares their interests and recuses themselves in case of conflict. Conclusions must be reasoned and based on recognised methods.

Directive No. 2019-07 governs these opinions: methods, evidence and level of certainty must be made explicit.

Timelines vary by service: ten days to register a work and obtain an OIMAP number, four to eight weeks for authenticity, three to six weeks for provenance, seven days for digital certification.

These timelines run from the submission of a complete file. An incomplete file is returned with the list of missing items.

Any certificate can be verified online, by its OIMAP number or by the QR code printed on the document. The response is immediate and indicates whether the document is valid, revoked or unknown.

See the Verify a document pages for details, and the page on reporting a fake in case of doubt.

A certificate reduces the risk of dispute, enhances the value of the work on resale and makes insurance easier. It also constitutes proof of good faith if provenance is challenged.

For a museum or public institution, certification is a tool for managing collections and preparing international loans.